Head protector



S, E. BOUCHARD EAD PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 18, 1945 FIG.!

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".Fl 3 JE. BOUCHABD INVENT I A ORNEYS met and causing the Patented Dec. 4, 1945 2,390,352" hum) rno'iiioirdit samuraiahaacnarmhiknmm N. Y., allergic: to

Bausch 8; Bomb OpticaljCompany; Rochester; N; Ya, a corporation of New Application August is, was, serial Nb. 499,089

7 '(llaims.

p This invention tastes to a head protector and more particularly to welders hood. 7

It is customary for welders to employ protectors of various types for the head to eliminate danger of injury from: flying molten metal sparks or bits duringthe welding operation. To aftord maximum protection, it has been found necessary to form the helmet of a fire-proof material to completely surround andcover the head and shoulders of the welder.

Several typ s of helmets heretofore proposed adequately meet these requirements; however, each possesses objectionable features. Helmets of metal constructional-e comfortably by the welder, Also, due to the inflexibility and unwieldiness ofthejse helmets, the welder is cramped in his movements, especially when he is requiredto workin confined quarters. Cloth helmets, such as asbestos or chemicallytreated fabric, have met with more favorable reception but are also objectionable in use. I'h'eir fire-proof material is impervious to air and thus prevents the ventilation and free circulation of air through the cloth and Within the helmet. As it is nece'ssary for the welder to closely inspect his work during the welding operation, the stagnant air within the helmet will absorb the heat transmitted to it by the air outside the helmet which, in turn, is heated by the extremely high temperatures generated by thetorch or electric are. As a result, due to the heat penetrating the helwelder to prspire freely, the stagnant air within the helmet reaches its saturation point rapidly and evaporation of the perspiration stops with the V consequence that the cooling eflect induced by the vaporation fails with attendant physical discomfort to the welder. fro relieve this discomfort, the welder is frequently required to interrupt the welding" operation and remove the helmet to too] his head and permitthe heated air to escape. This condition is further aggravated as the Welder is often forced to lie on his back, or assume other positions, where the removal and replacement of the helmet is exceedingly diflicult. V

It can therefore be seen that these objectionable features militate against the practical use of these types of helmets and it'is the primary object of this invention to e1iminate these ,difliculties by the provision of a lightweight. flexible hood of fire-proof material covering the head and neck of the welder and equipped with ventilating means permitting a continuous circulation of air within the hood about the head and neck. In the preferred elfilibdil'hnt Of the invention, the" hOOd too heavy to be worn is fanned with air passagesaucwing air to enter the open bottom of the hood a d a s between the head and outwardly spaced Wall of the hood and through openings in the crown to the atmosphere. The convective air currents passing through the h'obd insures he expulsion of the heated air and the entrance and passage of fresh air. Thus, the hood of the present invention obviates the inlfi'eient defects existing in prior types and provides 'ahocd capable of being worncontinuously for th entire welding operation in even confined places, with adequate protection and complete comfort. Byso doing, the welder'can work with maximum eiiicie'ncy and accelerated production at a substantial saving "in manufacturing costs Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying Fi i s a perspective viewer the hoo n use.

2 is a horizontm Sectional View Of the hood m s p Q Fi 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-'3 of Fig, 2 and also showing the hood in use. p a 4 is an enlarged portion of a section through'a fold;

In the embodiment or the inventionillustrated in the referring to' Figs. 1 and 2, t0 desighates the body of the hood which is made or a series or 'stithed-panels of a pliable and firefroof material, such as asbestos or chemicallytreated fabric. The body I0 completely surrounds the head and neck of the user and comprises a head portion extending downwardly to form a flaring shoulder-portion I2; I

Referring to 2 and 3, the hood is securely held in position on the head I3 of the wearer by a flexible band or drawstring H secured to the nner circumference of the head portion II at spaced'interv'als, as indicated at I 5. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the band I 4 is secured to the head portion I I and spaced from the peak of the hood to term an air chamber between the hood and the head of a user.

Heretofore, hoods designed to adequately protect-the welder by shielding his head and neck from; flying molten-sparksor bits have been unsatisfactory inuse. Metal hoods were too heavy to be wont continuously over an extended period of time with: comfort and due to their inflexibility, these cumbersome hoods impeded the welder in his movements, especially when working in confined places. on the other hand. cloth helmets of'fire-proof material were uncomfortable in use as the hoods would not permit air to penetrate their closely-knit material for the necessary ventilation of the interior of the hood.

nected to a rod 25 extending through a leather strip 26 fastened to the head portion I I. To raise the lens 23 to an inoperative position above the eyes, a portion of the rod 25 extending outwardly from the leather strip 26 is bent downwardly to form a handle 21, the friction of the strip 26 on air passages in the crown and sides of the head portion II and in the shoulder portion I2, traversing the interior of the hood and leavingthe hood through openings in the crown. g I i As shown in Fig. 4, the hood is permanently the rod 25 maintaining the lens above the eyes of the user. During the welding operation, the circulation of 'air through the hood will prevent any tendency of the lens 23 to become fogged by the condensation of moisture on the lens 23. p To permit passage of air to the nasal passages,

a hollow nose-piece 28 having a protective reticudeformed to provide folds I6 by foldingback' the r material of the head portion II to form plaits, the folded back portions being'securely held in place by stitches II. The flexible material of. the hood possesses sufficient firmnessv to retain the folds in expanded positions when worn by the welder, yet yielding readily to external pressure. Consequently, the folds extending outwardly from the crown of, the head portion II will assist in maintaining the crown in expanded position and thereby the air chamber formed therein.

To insure adequate ventilation of the hood, the

head portion I i is provided with air passages formed by the folds I6 spaced at intervals around the hood. These folds extend vertically from the crown of the hood to approximately the shoulder portion I2. The air enters the bottom of. the hood and also through the inlet vents formed by bell-shaped portions I8 of the flaring shoulder portion I2 and flows u wardly through the air passages formed by the folds I6 to the air chamber in the crown of the hood. The air completes its passage through the hood by flowing from the air chamber in the crown through the reticulated air outlets or vents I9 disposed in openings in the crown of the hood.

To permit the continuous flow of air past the head without interference by the narrow head band M, the folds are spaced midway between the "late'dscreen 29 is fastened to an opening in the head portion I I below the frame 2 I.

From' the. foregoing, it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide a new and improved head protector having ventilating passages for circulating air continuously around the head of a user. Various modifications can, of course, be made. without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: e

1,-A protecting device adapted to be mounted on the head of a user comprising a hood of pliable fabric material; a plurality of folds permanently formed in the head covering portion of said hood, said folds projecting outwardly from the head of the user and forming vertically extending air passages between the hood .and the head of the user; and air outlets formed about thelupper portions of said hood whereby air entering said hood at the bottom thereof flows upwardly through said passages to coolthe head of the userand exits through said outlets.

2. A protecting device ,adapted to'bemounted on the head of a user oomprisinga hood of pliable fabric material; a plurality of folds permanently 40 formed in the head covering portion of said hood,

junctures of the band I4 with the head portion I I and extend outwardly therefrom.

It can now be seen that when thehood is in use, the hood is thorou hly ventilated by convection currents, in that. the heated air flowing upwardly is evacuated from the hood through the air vents I9 to the atmosphere and the cooler air enters the bottom of the hoodthrouqh the air passages formed by the bell-shaped portions I8 and throu h the connected air passages formed by the folds I6, circulating the air about the head of the welder and into the air chamber in the crown of the hood. 7

Thus. the hood of the preferred embodiment of the invention can be worn continuously with complete comfort and freedom of movement duringthe entire welding operation, while protecting the head and neck of the welder from injury. By so doing, the welding operation may be efficiently and expeditiously performed at substantial savings in the costs of the welded articles.

To protect the eyes of the'welder frominjury by the brilliant light emitted from the electric are or torch, the front of the head portion II is provided with an opening in which is secured a rigid metal frame 2! adapted to engage another metalframe 22 carrying a lens 23 of eye-protecting properties. The frame 22 is secured to the head portion II by hinge members 24 consaid folds projecting outwardly from thehead of the user and forming vertically extending air passages between the side walls of said hood and the head of the user; an air chamber located in the crown of said hood and connected to the air passages formed by said folds; air vents carried in the crown of said hood; and an attaching band secured to the side walls of said hood interme diate said folds at the base of said crown whereby an entering said hood at the bottom thereof flows upwardly through said passages into said air chamber to cool the head of the user and exits through said vents. 3. Aheadprotecting device comprising a flexible hood made of pliable fabric adapted to cover the head and shoulders in spaced relation thereto-ya, plurality of folds permanently formed in said hood and forming air passages between the wall of said hood and the head .of a user, saidfolds comprising stitched plaitsextending vertically at spaced intervals around said'hood; and air outlets formed about the' upper portions of said hood whereby an entering said hood at the bottom thereof flows upwardly through said passages to cool the head of the user'and exits through said outlets, H I 4. A head protecting device comprising a flexible hood made of pliable. fabric adapted to. cover the head and shoulders in spaced relation thereto; a plurality of folds permanently formed in said hood and forming air passagesbetween the wall of said hood and the headof a user, said folds comprising stitched plaits extending vertically at spaced intervals. around said hood; air outlets formed about the upper portions of said the head covering portion of said hood, said folds projecting outwardly from the head of the user and forming vertically extending air passages between the hood and the head of the user; bellshaped portions formed in the flaring shoulder covering portion of said hood, said portions spaced outwardly from said hood and forming air passages between the hood and the shoulders of the user connected to the passages formed by said folds; and air outlets formed in the upper portion of said hood whereby air entering said bell-shaped portions of said hood flows upwardly through said connected air passages to cool the head of the user and exits through said outlets.

6. A head protecting device comprising a flexible hood made of pliable fabric adapted to cover the head and shoulders in spaced relation thereto and having sight and respiratory openings therein; a rigid frame secured in position to the edges of said sight opening; a frame pivotally mounted above said first-named frame and adapted to be moved from an inoperative position above the eyes to an operative position before the eyes; a protective lens carried by said second-named frame; a nosepiece secured in position to the edges of said respiratory opening; a plurality of folds permanently formed in the head covering portion of said hood for the passage of air between the hood and the head of the user; air outlets formed in the crown of-said hood whereby air entering said hood at the bottom thereof flows upwardly through said passages to cool the head of the user and exits through said outlets; and

means for securing said hood to the head of the user.

7. A head protecting device comprising a hood of non-inflammable pliable fabric material, said hood having sight and respiratory openings formed therein; a rigid frame secured in position to the edges of said sight opening; a frame pivotally mounted above said first-named frame and adapted to be moved from an inoperativevposition above the eyes to an operative position before the eyes; a protective lens carried by said second-named frame; a nosepiece secured in position to the edges of said respiratory opening; a reticulated member carried by said nosepiece; a plurality of folds permanently formed in the head covering portion of said hood, said folds projecting outwardly from the head of the user and forming vertically extendin air passages between the hood and the head of the user; bell-shaped portions formed in the flaring shoulder covering portion of said hood, said portions spaced outwardly from said hood and forming air passages between the hood and the shoulders of the user connected to the passages formed by said folds; air vents formed in the upper portion of said hood and serving as exits for the air flowing through said connected passages; and a band for securing said hood to the head of the user, said band being fastened at spaced intervals to the head covering portion of said hood intermediate said folds.

SAMUEL E. BOUCHARD. 

